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Fans Vandalize India Stadium after Messi's Abrupt Exit

Fans throw bottles and chairs, vandalizing hoardings at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, 13 December 2025. Following Messi's brief five-minute appearance, unrest broke out among fans who had paid a significant amount but were unable to see the Argentine football legend. EPA/PIYAL ADHIKARY
Fans throw bottles and chairs, vandalizing hoardings at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, 13 December 2025. Following Messi's brief five-minute appearance, unrest broke out among fans who had paid a significant amount but were unable to see the Argentine football legend. EPA/PIYAL ADHIKARY
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Fans Vandalize India Stadium after Messi's Abrupt Exit

Fans throw bottles and chairs, vandalizing hoardings at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, 13 December 2025. Following Messi's brief five-minute appearance, unrest broke out among fans who had paid a significant amount but were unable to see the Argentine football legend. EPA/PIYAL ADHIKARY
Fans throw bottles and chairs, vandalizing hoardings at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, 13 December 2025. Following Messi's brief five-minute appearance, unrest broke out among fans who had paid a significant amount but were unable to see the Argentine football legend. EPA/PIYAL ADHIKARY

Angry spectators broke down barricades and stormed the pitch at a stadium in India after football star Lionel Messi, who is on a three-day tour of the country, abruptly left the arena.

As a part of a so-called GOAT Tour, the 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar touched down in the eastern state of West Bengal early Saturday, greeted by a chorus of exuberant fans chanting his name, said AFP.

Hours later, thousands of fans wearing Messi jerseys and waving the Argentine flag packed into Salt Lake stadium in the state capital Kolkata, but heavy security around the footballer left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of him.

Messi walked around the pitch waving to fans and left the stadium earlier than expected.

Frustrated fans, many having paid more than $100 for tickets, ripped out stadium seats and hurled water bottles onto the track.

Many others stormed the pitch and vandalized banners and tents.

"For me, to watch Messi is a pleasure, a dream. But I have missed the chance to have a glimpse because of the mismanagement in the stadium," businessman Nabin Chatterjee, 37, told AFP.

Before the chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21-meter (70-foot) statue which shows him holding aloft the World Cup.

He was also expected to play a short exhibition game at the stadium.

Another angry fan told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that people had spent "a month's salary" to see Messi.

"I paid Rs 5,000 ($55) for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians. The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame," Ajay Shah, told PTI.

State chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was "disturbed" and "shocked" at the mismanagement.

"I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident," she said in a post on X, adding that she had ordered a probe into the incident.

Messi will now head to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi as part of the four-city tour.

His time in India also includes a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker will spearhead Argentina's defence of the World Cup in June-July in North America.

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Andreeva Crashes Out in Angry End to Indian Wells Title Defense

Mirra Andreeva reacts to the crowd as she leaves the court after her loss to Katerina Siniakova of Czechia during Day 6 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 09, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Mirra Andreeva reacts to the crowd as she leaves the court after her loss to Katerina Siniakova of Czechia during Day 6 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 09, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Andreeva Crashes Out in Angry End to Indian Wells Title Defense

Mirra Andreeva reacts to the crowd as she leaves the court after her loss to Katerina Siniakova of Czechia during Day 6 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 09, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Mirra Andreeva reacts to the crowd as she leaves the court after her loss to Katerina Siniakova of Czechia during Day 6 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 09, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Mirra Andreeva's Indian Wells title defense met a bad-tempered end on Monday in round three as Katerina Siniakova stunned the talented Russian teenager 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

The 18-year-old Andreeva opened her bid to retain her crown with an imperious 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Solana Sierra.

But she was in trouble early and often against 44th-ranked Siniakova in a rollercoaster contest that ended with a shot from the Czech that hit the net cord and dribbled over in one last frustrating moment.

Andreeva slung her racquet as she approached the net before departing the court with a defiant gesture at the crowd.

"I'm not really proud of how I managed it," said Andreeva, but added her profanities picked up by courtside microphones weren't directed at the fans.

"It was just anger coming out, just a lot of emotions," she said. "Not really towards anyone."

Siniakova, a former doubles number one, admitted it was an awkward way to seal the win in a match that featured seven service breaks for each player and 43 break chances between them.

"Of course I'm happy (the ball) went on the other side," she said. "I was, like, should I cheer? It's a really tricky finish. But definitely I will not say I'm not happy."

Siniakova said the swirling winds on Stadium Court were troubling both players.

Andreeva's emotions had already boiled over when she sailed a swinging volley long to surrender the second set, during which each player had remarks for the chair umpire about her opponent.

She regrouped to break Siniakova for a 3-2 lead in the third, but Siniakova won the next four games, saving two break points in the final game before gaining the win on her first match point.

Siniakova will face Elina Svitolina for a place in the quarter-finals after the ninth-seeded Ukrainian beat American Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-2.

There was no drama for world number two Iga Swiatek, who defeated Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2.

- Learning experience -

Poland's Swiatek beat Sakkari in the final to claim both of her Indian Wells titles, in 2022, and 2024, but Sakkari had won their most recent encounter in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open last month.

Swiatek said she had learned from "obvious mistakes" she made in Doha.

"I knew what to focus on today and I did that from the beginning till the end," she said. "So I'm really happy with my focus and the way I was prepared.

Swiatek next faces Doha champion Karolina Muchova, who blew past Antonia Ruzic 6-0, 6-3.

Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina kept her bid for a second Indian Wells title on track with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.

Rybakina, seeded third, trailed 1-3 in the second set but surged home in chilly late night conditions to book a fourth-round clash with Britain's Sonay Kartal, a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 winner over Madison Keys.

"I'm just happy that I managed to win in two sets," said Kazakhstan's Rybakina, who lifted the trophy in the California desert in 2023.

Fifth-seeded American Jessica Pegula shook off a slow start to beat Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Pegula, coming off her fourth career WTA 1000 title at Dubai last month, fired 11 aces with just one double fault as she rallied for the win.

"I think today I had to kind of snap myself back and kind of lock in to not let that get away from me," said Pegula, who said she was in danger of letting negativity and frustration get the better of her.

Pegula next plays Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, who beat Elise Mertens 6-2, 6-3.

Sports

Newcastle Eye History in Champions League Clash With Barcelona

Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 7, 2026 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 7, 2026 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Newcastle Eye History in Champions League Clash With Barcelona

Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 7, 2026 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Newcastle United v Manchester City - St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - March 7, 2026 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks dejected after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)

Eddie Howe has challenged Newcastle to produce the performance of a lifetime as they aim to win the "biggest game" in the club's history against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Howe's side will make only their second appearance in the Champions League last 16 when the Liga leaders arrive on Tyneside for a highly anticipated first leg clash.

For the first time since 2002-03, when they reached the second group phase, Newcastle are one of the 16 clubs remaining in a Champions League campaign.

But having eased past Azerbaijani underdogs Qarabag in the playoff round, Howe knows Newcastle will have to make a significant step up in class to stun Hansi Flick's star-studded team.

"We've never been in this position in the Champions League before and it's the best competition there is, so for obvious reasons it's a massive game in our history," Howe said.

"We need to approach it that way and we need the supporters to think that way."

Newcastle famously beat Barca 3-2 thanks to a Faustino Asprilla hat-trick in the clubs' first Champions League meeting in 1997.

That was the peak of the Magpies' brief spell as the Premier League's great entertainers.

Decades in the doldrums followed, reducing the club to laughing stock status under unpopular former owner Mike Ashley.

Those dark days included two relegations to the second tier in 2009 and 2016.

Starved of success for so long, Newcastle have enjoyed a welcome renaissance since their Saudi owners took charge in 2021.

Barca's visit is the kind of glamour night that Toon Army has dreamt of since the takeover.

Last season, Newcastle ended a 56-year trophy drought by beating Liverpool in the League Cup final.

Now they are hoping to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

- 'Geordie boys are taking over' -

Beating the five-time European champions would be a massive moment in Newcastle's history, especially as their progress has been in danger of stalling this season.

Newcastle are languishing in 12th in the Premier League and were knocked out of the FA Cup fifth round by Manchester City on Saturday.

Booed off following a 3-2 loss against Brentford at St James' Park earlier this season, Howe has struggled to balance Newcastle's ambitions with the reality of financial rules that have restricted the club's ability to use the vast wealth of their Saudi backers.

Having sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool in September, Newcastle have been unable to reproduce the dynamic form that carried them to silverware and Champions League qualification last season.

Saturday's game was Newcastle's 47th of the season and 19th in 63 days, a grueling schedule that has taken a toll on a squad depleted by injuries.

Howe will try to assemble a fresh line-up against Barcelona having rested Dan Burn, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon for the Manchester City clash.

"I don't think we've got the strength at the moment to make loads of changes and keep the same strength in our performance," Howe conceded.

"We need to try to find some energy from somewhere that will elevate our performance to a level that we've not seen before this season because I think that's the only way we'll get through."

Despite all their problems, Newcastle have won six Champions League games in a single campaign for the first time.

Their European success has inspired Newcastle supporters to chant: "Is this the way to Barcelona? Bayern Munich? Lazio? Roma? Geordie boys are taking over, Champions League awaits for me!"

Defeated by Barcelona in all four of their meetings since 1997 -- including a 2-1 home loss in the group stage this season -- Newcastle will have to defy the odds to give their fans more opportunities to serenade the heroes in Europe.

Sports

Mercedes Set Gold Standard at Australian GP but New F1 Rules ‘Suck’

Kimi Antonelli (C-L) and George Russell (C-R) of Mercedes celebrate with the pit crew and team following the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, 08 March 2026. (EPA)
Kimi Antonelli (C-L) and George Russell (C-R) of Mercedes celebrate with the pit crew and team following the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, 08 March 2026. (EPA)
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Mercedes Set Gold Standard at Australian GP but New F1 Rules ‘Suck’

Kimi Antonelli (C-L) and George Russell (C-R) of Mercedes celebrate with the pit crew and team following the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, 08 March 2026. (EPA)
Kimi Antonelli (C-L) and George Russell (C-R) of Mercedes celebrate with the pit crew and team following the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, 08 March 2026. (EPA)

George Russell claimed victory at the Australian Grand Prix to open the season with a bang as Mercedes showed they are clear early pacesetters under sweeping new regulations.

AFP Sport looks at what we learned from the opening race of the 24-stop calendar:

- Mercedes set standard -

Mercedes came into the Melbourne race as the pre-season favorites and lived up to the billing.

After a front-row lockout in qualifying, pole-sitter Russell weathered an early battle with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to claim a statement victory over teammate Kimi Antonelli.

Russell called the win "very sweet" and team chief Toto Wolff is confident they have a package that can challenge for the drivers' and constructors' world title.

"To see us take a solid 1-2 in race one with the season ahead hopefully means we can try and fight for a world championship," said Wolff.

"It will take a lot of hard work and we know our competitors will be chasing us down, but this is exactly how we wanted to start the year."

- New rules 'suck' -

Melbourne was the first race under F1's most radical regulation overhaul in years.

The cars are smaller and lighter and the power units now 50 percent battery.

Russell said drivers should give the new rules time, but the likes of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were not impressed.

"We've come from the best cars ever made in Formula One, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst. It sucks," McLaren world champion Norris raged.

"Everyone knows what the issues are. It's just the fact the engine is a 50-50 (combustion-electric) split and it just doesn't work."

Williams' Carlos Sainz said the public criticism by drivers was "self-harming" for the sport and should be kept private.

- Lindblad one to watch -

Just one rookie started their first full season as a Formula One driver in Australia and 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad showed no fear.

In his first F1 race, the Racing Bulls driver stormed to a composed eighth, surging as high as third at one point.

The Briton finished ahead of a slew of more experienced competitors, including teammate Liam Lawson, after showing his potential all weekend.

"I know I'm sort of the 'young kid' and I'm the rookie, but when I'm in the car, I'm a fierce competitor," said Lindblad, who has Indian heritage.

"I'm going to take every opportunity I get, and I think I showed that."

Lindblad replaced Isack Hadjar, who moved up to partner Verstappen at Red Bull.

- Haas stake midfield claim -

There is always speculation how the midfield will shape up at the start of each season behind the big four of McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes.

Haas, Racing Bulls and Audi (formerly Sauber) staked an early claim to be "best of the rest" in Melbourne with all three getting cars into the top 10.

Ollie Bearman in his Haas finished seventh, with teammate Esteban Ocon 11th.

"To come away with P7 for the team is unbelievable -- only beaten by the top four teams," said team chief Ayao Komatsu.

"We have a huge learning curve over the next few races but I don't think we could have started the year any better."

- Aston Martin pain -

Silverstone-based Aston Martin endured a horror start after serious issues with their Honda power unit and a lack of spare parts.

Amid fears that extreme vibration in the chassis could cause permanent nerve damage, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were never going to challenge.

Team boss and design maestro Adrian Newey said he felt "powerless" as new partner Honda work on the problem.

"It's not going to be a quick fix," he warned.

- Cadillac's rude awakening -

Cadillac made its debut in Melbourne -- the first independent constructor to enter the sport since Haas in 2016.

It was a rude awakening with Sergio Perez 16th and last, three laps behind, and Valtteri Bottas failing to finish.

But team principal Graeme Lowdon was happy with how they started.

"We're up against incredible competition, who we have huge respect for, but I've got enormous belief in the team that we're building here," he said.

"This is a really good start to our journey."